Introduction
to Jeremiah
A.
The Author
1.
Written by Jeremiah, a priest, son of the high
priest Hilkiah, the one who "rediscovered" God's Word during the
reign of Josiah (see 2 Kings 22)
2.
Elder to priest and prophet Ezekiel,
contemporary to Daniel
3.
He served as a priest with Habakkuk and
Zephaniah
B.
Dates and sequences
1.
The kings of Jeremiah's day
a)
Manasseh (697 - 642 BC): very evil king,
Jeremiah born during his reign. [2nd
Chronicles 33]
b)
Amon (641 - 640 BC): evil son of the evil
Manasseh
c)
Josiah (639 - 608 BC): a good king, began
a reformation that didn't last. Jeremiah
began his ministry in Josiah's 13th year
d)
Jehoahaz (608 BC): only lasted three
months before he got carted off to Egypt
e)
Jehoikim (608 - 597 BC): another wicked
king, shook his fist at God, hated Jeremiah
f)
Jehoichin (597 BC): got carted off to
Babylon
g)
Zedekiah (597 - 586 BC): a descent man
with many faults, but a weak king. His
was the reign that saw the destruction of Jerusalem.
2.
Chronology of historical events
a)
626 BC - Jeremiah's call
b)
607 BC -- Nineveh destroyed by Babylon
c)
606 BC -- Babylon's first conquest of
Judah
d)
586 BC -- Babylon destroys Jerusalem,
beginning of the 70 years of captivity
3.
Sequence of messages in the book
a)
With some messages, a time notice is
given, in others it is not
b)
The messages DO NOT flow in time sequence,
Jeremiah didn't record them in the order he received them.
C.
Themes and Topics
1.
The backsliding of the Jews and continued calls
for repentance
2.
The coming destruction and bondage can be
avoided if repentance comes
3.
Once bondage comes, submission to God and to
Babylon will spare them
4.
After the chastisement, recovery will come
D.
Arrangement and Outline
1.
Prophecies made prior to King Zedekiah's reign
-- Chapters 1 through 18
2.
Prophecies made during the reign of King
Zedekiah -- Chapters 19 through 29
3.
Prophecies of Israel's future -- Chapters 30
through 35
4.
Prophecies to the remnant of Judah after
Babylon's conquest -- Chapters 40 through 42
5.
Events around the Fall of Jerusalem -- Chapters
36 through 43
6.
Conclusion and fulfillment of the destruction of
Jerusalem -- Chapters 44 through 52
Prophecies
prior to Zedekiah's reign
Background from the OT: Jeremiah 1 - 18
A.
Jeremiah's Call to Service (ch 1)
1.
Known by God and sanctified to service before
his birth (v 5)
a)
Note the authority given by God
2.
Jeremiah's response:
"I'm just a child" (v
6)
a)
His actual age was about 20
b)
Compare to Moses' response in Exodus
chapter 4
3.
God's response to Jeremiah (vs 7 - 10)
a)
It doesn't matter what you think of your
own abilities -- I'm the One who sends you.
b)
Don't be afraid of resistance -- I'm
standing with you.
c)
I'll put MY WORDS in your mouth (see also
Matthew 10:18-20)
d)
Jeremiah is given the authority to tear
down and build up: "Root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, build
and plant"
4.
A prophetic vision (vs 11- 16)
a)
The Almond Tree
(1)The almond tree was known as a "watcher" or
"waker" because it was among the first plants to bud with the
coming of Spring -- it "watched for" and "awakened"
in warm weather.
(2)God says "I will hasten my word to perform
it" -- The Hebrew word for "I will hasten" [shoqed]
sounds very similar to the Hebrew word for "almond" [shaqed]
b)
The Seething Pot
(1)A boiling cauldron of trouble will come spilling down
from the North -- the Babylonian Army
(2)Compare this to Ezekiel 24:1-14 where God uses a
boiling pot to describe what life will be like for those in Jerusalem
during the Babylonian siege.
c)
God gives the reasons for the coming
judgment -- v 16
(1)They are wicked -- His judgments will touch each sin
(2)They have forsaken Him
(3)Worshipping other gods
(4)Worshipping the works of their own hands
5.
Marching Orders (vs 17 - 19)
a)
Gird up thy loins
b)
Arise
c)
Speak
d)
"Be not dismayed…lest I confound
thee" God says trust and
obey
e)
He will be like an impenetrable fortress
f)
They'll fight him, but they won't prevail.
Why? Because the great I AM is with him.
B.
Israel's Apostasy from God's point of view (ch
2)
1.
Fondly remembering the 'Youth' of Israel (vs 1 -
3)
a)
"kindness" is a word that is
used to describe special covenant relationships -- marriages, etc.
It's not just "being nice" -- it's being lovingly good to
another.
b)
"evil shall come upon them…"
(v 3) does God do evil? No.
Does He remove His hand from restraining it?
Yes.
2.
God asks "what did I ever do to
you…?" (v 5 - 12). Compare to Micah 6:2-4, which was written about 80
years earlier.
a)
No one asked "where is the Lord"
-- instead, they turned to idols
b)
Even the priests & prophets simply
chose to ignore God
c)
Yet God pleads with them, tries to reason
with them
d)
Amazement that no one else has ever
switched gods
3.
Two great sins (v 13)
a)
Forsaking the Living Water
b)
Hewing out broken cisterns
4.
The sin of seeking help from Egypt (vs 14 - 20)
a)
Historical note:
the Egyptians attempted to compete against the Babylonians
militarily during this period. Israel
tried to form an alliance with the Egyptians.
It failed.
5.
Eight Illustrations of Israel's unfaithfulness
(vs 20 - 29)
a)
An ox that breaks out of its yoke (v 20)
b)
An unfaithful wife (v 20b)
c)
A fruitful vine turned weed (v 21)
d)
A man who washes but can't get clean (v
22)
e)
A camel wandering around aimlessly (v 23)
f)
A donkey in heat (v 24)
g)
A thief overcome by shame when he is
caught (v 26)
h)
Giving credit to idols for their very
existence (v 27)
6.
God answers His own question from verse 5 and
turns it back onto ALL the people of Israel (vs 29 - 37)
a)
God's correction had no effect -- they
even killed the prophets sent to correct them
b)
Their guilt is plainly evident (v 34)
c)
They say "we're innocent".
God says "let's put it to the test" (v 35)
d)
Another warning about seeking salvation
from Egypt (vs 36-37)
C.
Judah Compared to an Unfaithful Wife (3:1-5)
This
is the completion of Jeremiah's first message, begun in chapter 2, directed
toward Judah (the two southern tribes).
1.
God calls her back to faithfulness despite her
sin
2.
God reminds her that His anger will not be
reserved forever
D.
Jeremiah's Second Message (3:6 - 5:31)
Note
that in the following three chapters, the word backsliding is used more than
it is used throughout the rest of the Bible
1.
Backsliding during Josiah's reign (3:6 - 11)
a)
Historical note: Josiah has begun a
general reformation at this time, but the Book of the Law has not yet been
discovered in the temple. This
is a time of reformation -- not revival.
b)
God gives Israel (the northern 10 tribes)
as an example (vs 6 - 9)
c)
God holds Judah more guilty than Israel
(vs 10 - 11)
2.
A call for the northern tribes' repentance (3:12
- 15)
a)
"…for I am married unto
you…" (vs 14)
b)
"…I will give you pastors…"
(vs 15)
3.
A brief glimpse into the Millennial Kingdom (vs
16 - 19)
a)
Side note on verse 19 -- the Jews did not
call God their father, nor did God refer to them as His son. ("My
servant David…", "My servant Moses…" Our Son-ship comes through Jesus.
4.
Another appeal for repentance and healing (vs 20
- 4:2)
5.
A call to plant good seed in prepared soil ( 4:3
- 4)
6.
The Babylonians are coming!
(vs 5 - 31)
a)
Prophecy occurs about 40 years before the
event
b)
It will catch the kings, priests &
(false) prophets by surprise (vs 9 - 10)
c)
Another call for repentance -- the
judgment can be stayed (v 14)
d)
Foolish people, but "wise to do
evil…" (v 22)
7.
God searches for anyone righteous (vs 5:1 - 9)
a)
Compare to Gen 18:23 - 33
b)
They simply don't know God
c)
Like horses "neighing after his
neighbor's wife"
8.
Prepare for destruction (vs 10 - 18)
a)
"nevertheless …I will not make a
full end" (v18)
9.
They will be strangers in a strange land (vs 19
- 21)
10.
A wonderful, horrible thing (vs 30 - 31)
E.
Jerusalem's Final Warning (ch 6)
The
completion of Jeremiah's second message, begun in chapter 3.
1.
Run for your lives! (vs 1 - 9)
a)
Tekoa was the home of the prophet Amos
b)
'cast a mount' (v 6) was a military tactic
of building an earthen parapet against a city wall, to breach it.
c)
Jerusalem spews wickedness (v 7)
2.
Israel’s constant rebellion (vs 10 - 15)
a)
A people given over to covetousness (v 13)
b)
Putting a band-aid over a mortal wound (v
14)
3.
Israel rejects God's ways (vs 16 - 21)
a)
God says "walk in the old ways".
They say "nope" (v16)
b)
God says "pay attention to the
watchmen's warnings". They say "we're not listening" (v 17)
c)
Therefore… (v 19)
d)
Stumbling-blocks and blindness: see also
Leviticus 19:14
4.
Jerusalem's destruction prophesied ( vs 22:30)
a)
Vivid depiction of events that Jeremiah
himself would witness some 40 years later. (see also the book of Lamentations)
F.
The Temple Gate Messages (ch 7 - 10)
Chapters
7–10 are often called “The Message in the Temple Gate” which describe the
reasons for the coming judgment, and focus primarily on the people’s false
standards of life. Probably written
around 600 B.C., twelve years after the "Second Message."
1.
Don't think the Temple will save you (vs 7:1 -
16)
a)
Repent and be saved (v 3)
b)
Practice judgment, kindness, purity (vs 4
- 7)
c)
Can you sin without and worship within?
(vs 9 - 10)
d)
Compare verse 11 with Mark 11:15 - 17 for
fresh insight into the reason for Jesus' anger -- Jesus knew his message
had been preached before and nothing was changed.
e)
"If you think a temple can save you,
go look at Shiloh" (v 12).
(1)Shiloh was the first permanent tabernacle erected after
the Israelites entered Canaan
(2)It was destroyed after the Philistines defeated the
Israelites and captured the Ark, around 1050 BC
f)
"Because of your sins I will do to
the Temple what I did to Shiloh" (v 13 - 15)
g)
"Don't pray for them, Jeremiah."
(v 16)
2.
Judah's Idolatry (vs 17 - 28)
a)
Everyone's involved in it (v 18)
b)
Therefore: anger and fury to be poured out
(v 20)
c)
"I've never wanted your burnt
offerings" (vs 21 - 23)
d)
A nation of disobedient liars (v 28)
3.
Valley of Slaughter (vs 30 - 8:3)
a)
Tophet was an altar in the Valley of
Hinnom, just south of Jerusalem. It
was used to offer child sacrifices to the god Molech
b)
Hinnom later became known as Gehenna
c)
Gehenna, (greek word for Hell) is the name
of the garbage pit in that valley that Jesus referenced in Mark 9:43 and
Matthew 5:22. In Jesus' day,
it was a symbol of eternal damnation.
d)
"At that time" -- when the
slaughter of the valley takes place -- the Babylonians will dig up the
graves of the rulers of Israel and spread their bones around (vs 8:1 - 3)
4.
Deception by False Prophets (8:4 - 17)
a)
Gods asks, "when people fall down,
don't they get up again? When
they figure out they're going the wrong way, don't they turn around?"
(v 4)
b)
Even the migratory birds know when it's
time to fly back home (v 7)
c)
But the people of Israel just keep on
doing all the wrong things -- everyone.
(v 10)
d)
Band-aids for mortal wounds (v 11)
e)
"Were they ashamed of
themselves?" No …
therefore … judgment is coming (vs 12 - 17)
5.
Tears for a sinful people (vs 18 - 9:2)
6.
Judgment for a sinful people (vs 9:3 - 16)
a)
Deceit is common (vs 4 - 8)
b)
It will be judged (vs 9 - 11)
c)
Theirs will be the cup of wrath (vs 12 -
16)
7.
Mourn, therefore, for the people (vs 17 - 21)
8.
True source of glory (vs 23 - 24)
9.
Universal judgment for those who do not honor
God (vs 25 - 26)
10.
The difference between God and idols (vs 10:1 -
16)
a)
Idols: have to be nailed down or they'll
fall over; they stand up straight but can't speak; they have to be carried
everywhere they go; they do no evil; they do no good; they are a vanity;
they will perish
b)
God:
He is true; He is living; His wrath makes the earth tremble; He
destroys idols; His voice is like the multitude of waters; He makes
lightning and wind and rain; He
is the creator of everything; The Lord of Hosts is His name!
11.
The coming destruction prophesied (vs 17 - 22)
12.
Jeremiah's prayer (vs 23 - 25)
G.
The Broken Covenant (11:1 - 17)
It's unclear when the next series of messages take place, but they
probably occurred about eight years before the Temple Gate Messages.
They may be linked to a period about 20 years earlier just after the
end of King Josiah's reign, and the brief revival he started after discovering
a copy of the Book of the Law (see also II
Kings 23).
1.
Curses for not obeying (vs 1 - 5)
2.
Jeremiah commanded to read the covenant to all
the land (vs 6 - 8)
a)
The blessings & curses of Deuteronomy
28 - 29
b)
Note especially Deut 29:24-29 -- a
prophecy comes to pass
3.
"Therefore…I will not hearken to
them…" (v 11)
4.
"Pray not for this people…",
"…they don't even have the right to come into my temple…"
(vs 14 - 15)
H.
The Plot to Kill Jeremiah (11:18 - 23)
1.
Knowledge of a plot given to Jeremiah by God (v
18)
2.
Jeremiah's prayer for vengeance (v 20)
3.
Anathoth was his home town (v 21)
4.
God's promise of judgment on them (vs 22 - 23)
I.
Complaint about Prosperity of the Wicked (12:1
- 4)
From
the commentaries of J. Vernon McGee about this passage:
"…we
have entered a very evil period in the life of the nation, and the only light
remaining is this man Jeremiah. Josiah has been slain, Jeremiah has been
forced to leave his hometown, and evil men have come to the throne. Conditions
seem only to get worse. At this point Jeremiah—and I believe every honest
Christian—has doubts come into his heart. Dark thoughts come into his mind,
and he wonders why God permits certain things. Every pastor who has ever stood
for the things of God at times wonders why God does not move. He looks around
and sees that it is his very best people who are suffering; the most spiritual
folk seem to be having more trouble than anyone else. We all wonder why God
permits this. Even David questioned God when he saw '… the wicked in great
power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree' (Ps. 37:35)."
Notice
that Jeremiah doesn't actually ask "why is this happening?"
Instead, he asks "how much longer will this go on?"
Big difference -- he's not questioning God's motives, but rather
pleading for the justice that he knows will someday come.
J.
God answers the Complaint (12:5 - 17)
1.
A paraphrase of God's response would be
something like "If you can't take it now, Jeremiah, what will you do
when it gets worse?" (vs 5)
2.
Don't even trust your own kinfolk, Jeremiah (v
6)
3.
"I've given up them"
(vs 7 - 9)
4.
A warning to Israel's enemies if they try to
take advantage of the situation (v 17)
a)
Note also the promise of salvation at
verse 16
5.
Notice that God never directly answers
Jeremiah's question
K.
The Example of the Dirty Girdle (ch 13)
1.
God's instructs Jeremiah to ruin a part of his
priest's uniform (vs 1 - 11)
a)
The girdle is a parable for how Judah,
with whom Jehovah had clothed himself to walk among men, once beautiful
and glorious, would be marred and cast off
2.
God's reply to the curious onlookers (vs 12 -
14)
3.
Jeremiah's impassioned plea for repentence (vs
15 - 27)
L.
Prophecy of The Coming Famine (ch 14)
Up
until this point Jeremiah has been prophesying during the reign of Josiah.
It is now the reign of Jehoiakim -- Josiah was killed when he attempted
a fight with Egypt. The nation is rapidly falling back into idolatry.
1.
General description of severe drought (vs 1 - 6)
2.
Jeremiah pleads for mercy (vs 7 - 9)
a)
Notice that he says "we" and
"us", not "them"
3.
God's response to Jeremiah: don't pray for them
(v 10 - 12)
4.
False prophets (vs 13 - 17)
5.
Jeremiah boldly intercedes again
(vs 18 - 22)
M.
Judah is Rejected (ch 15)
1.
Beyond intercession (vs 1 - 9)
a)
Even Moses and Samuel can't help them now
2.
Jeremiah's woes and God's comfort to him (vs 10
- 21)
a)
Notice the pattern: Jeremiah speaks, God
answers
N.
Judah's Coming Punishment (ch 16)
1.
Jeremiah forbidden to marry (vs 1 - 4)
2.
The good days are over (vs 5 - 13)
3.
Hope amidst disaster ( vs 14 - 21)
O.
The Sin of Judah and Her Punishment (17:1 - 4)
1.
Their sin is permanently engraved on the tablets
of their hearts. Even the
children are corrupted.
P.
God's Wisdom (17:5 - 11)
1.
Cursed is he who trusts in man
2.
Blessed is he who trusts in God
3.
The heart is deceitful -- only God can see into
our souls
Q.
Jeremiah's Trust in God (17:12 - 18)
1.
A prayer of praise and consolation
R.
Observing the Sabbath (17:19 - 27)
1.
God focuses on the 4th Commandment
a)
1 - 4 deals with our relationship with
God: no other gods; no graven images; name of the Lord in vain; remember
the Sabbath
b)
5 - 10 deals with our relationship with
men: honor father & mother; murder; adultery; theft; lies; coveting
c)
God points out that their real problem was
a lack of respect for Himself
2.
Jesus focuses on commandments 5 - 10 in Mark
10:17-22
a)
He forces the rich young ruler to consider
the darker secrets of his heart
S.
The Potter and the Clay (18:1 - 17)
1.
"…as it seemed good to the
potter…"
2.
even the "heathen" know better than to
treat a god the way the Israelites have done
T.
A Plot to Discredit Jeremiah (18:18 - 23)
1.
Jeremiah again lets his readers understand some
of the constant persecution he faces (see also Jere 11:18, 19) and renews his plea for safety and
deliverance from the designs of evil men
Prophecies
During the Reign of Zedekiah
Background from the OT: Jeremiah 19 - 29)
Although not completely chronological, the next ten chapters or so occur
during the 11-year reign of King Zedekiah. Zedekiah was a fairly good man but a weak king, and evil in
God's sight. The siege of Jerusalem
begins during his reign.
A.
The Example of the Broken Bottle (Ch 19)
1.
Related to the prophecy stated in 7:29-34
2.
Also related to the example of the potter and
the clay in 18:1-17
3.
God illustrates what He intends to do through
the act of breaking a hand-crafted water bottle
B.
Jeremiah arrested (Ch 20)
1.
For his role in locking up Jeremiah, Pashur
receives condemnation and a name change from God.
His new name will be Magor-missabib which means "afraid of
everything" or "terror on every side" (vs 3 - 6)
a)
It's interesting to note that Jeremiah's
persecution began at the seat of organized religion -- the priests and
false prophets
2.
Jeremiah's misgivings about continuing to
prophecy (vs 7 - 18)
a)
First he claims that God "deceived
him" Actually, God was
pretty clear about what was going to happen in 1:7-19.
b)
Then he said "I'd give it all up, but
I can't" (v 9)
c)
He confesses the righteous nature of God
(vs 11 - 13)
d)
Jeremiah's painful examination of his own
condition (vs 14 - 18)
C.
The Siege Begins (Ch 21)
1.
When Zedekiah learns that Babylon's armies are
on the way, he asks Jeremiah to intercede to God on their behalf
2.
God's answer: it's too late.
I am against you. (vs 4 - 7)
3.
God gives the people of Jerusalem a life or
death choice: Stay in the city
and die, or flee the city and live, but as a captive. (vs 8 - 10)
D.
God's Word to the Line of David (21:11 -
22:30)
1.
A general reminder of the responsibilities of
the throne (vs 11 - 14)
2.
A message for Judah's kings (vs 22:1 - 5)
3.
A message about the Palace (vs 6 - 9)
4.
A message about Jehoahaz (Shallum) (vs 10 - 12)
5.
A message about Jehoiakim (vs 13 - 23)
6.
A message for Jehoiachin (Coniah) (vs 24 - 28)
E.
Restoration from Exile (23:1-4)
1.
woe to the false prophets
2.
God's remnant will be restored
a)
They shall fear no more
b)
They shall never be lacking
F.
The Coming Messiah -- a Branch of David (vs 5
- 8)
1.
At verse 22:30 God proclaims that Jehoiachin (Coniah)
would leave no heirs to the throne. He
was the last of the descendents of the line of David.
Now, verse 5 of ch 23 states that God will raise up unto David a
"righteous branch" -- a descendent to the throne.
We know that to be Jesus.
Although Jesus’ paternal ancestors through Joseph include
Jehoiachin (see Matt. 1:11–16),
the line of descent shows Jesus’ legal right to the throne of David.
Because Jesus was virgin-born and not the natural son of Joseph, the
prophecy against Jehoiachin’s ancestry is not a contradiction.
2.
The people won't refer to God as the One who
brought Israel out of bondage from Egypt, but the One who restored the seed
of the house of Israel
G.
False Prophets Denounced (vs 9 - 40)
1.
Jeremiah's grief over their wicked ways (vs 9 -
11)
2.
a description of their wickedness (vs 12 - 14)
3.
therefore…
a)
they will be judged ( v 15 )
b)
don't listen to them (v 16)
c)
God's anger will be poured out on them (v
19)
4.
God didn't send them ( v 21)
5.
God describes His own Omnipresence (vs 23 - 24)
6.
The power of God's Word (v 29)
7.
A promise of perpetual shame (v 40)
H.
The Example of the Figs (24:1 - 10)
1.
a vision of two baskets of figs.
One basket is good, with delicious fresh ripe figs.
The other basket is full of inedible
fruit, and fit for nothing.
2.
The good figs are the people that God will
preserve through the captivity. The
bad figs are the ones that will be destroyed.
I.
The Coming Babylonian Captivity
(25:1 - 14)
1.
Jeremiah says "I've been telling you the
same message for 23 years now, that you must repent and turn from your evil
ways." (vs 1 - 7)
2.
God says "since you've ignore Me, your
judgment has come." (vs 8 - 11)
3.
The captivity will last for 70 years, and then
I'll punish your captors (v 12)
J.
The Example of the Cup of Wrath (25:15 - 38)
1.
God's wrath is poured out on Israel and her
neighbors (vs 15 - 27)
2.
If God would punish His chosen people, then
He'll certainly also punish all the others for their own wickedness (vs 28 -
38)
3.
Possible interpretive question as to whether
this pertains to events under Babylonian influence, or to the future
"Day of the Lord" (see
also Joel ch 2).
K.
Temple Gate Message Revisited (ch 26)
Chapters 26 - 29 occur out of chronological sequence, that is, they were
not made during the reign of Zedekiah (597 - 586 BC), but during the reign of
Jehoikim (608 - 597 BC).
1.
a similar message to that of Chapter 7 (vs
26:1-7)
2.
Jeremiah is apprehended and charges of treason
are brought against him (vs 8 - 15)
3.
One of the elders came to his defense by
recounting what the prophet Micah had said a hundred years earlier (710
BC). He reasoned
that the king had not punished Micah then, so they shouldn't punish Jeremiah
now. (see
also Micah 3:12) (vs
16 - 19)
4.
The prophet Urijah doesn't fare so well (vs 20 -
24)
L.
The Example of the Yoke (ch 27)
1.
God instructs Jeremiah to walk around with a
yoke on his neck (vs 1 - 8)
a)
This prophecy is also to the enemies of
Israel -- Edom, Moab, Ammon
b)
The message is clear: God has raised up
Nebuchadnezzar to rule over the nations, those who refuse to be ruled by him
will be punished
2.
Pay no attention to anyone who says to revolt
against Babylon (vs 9 - 15)
3.
Ignore the prophets who say the captivity will
be short-lived (vs 16 - 22)
M.
Later that same year… (ch 28)
1.
The false prophet Hananiah says that God told
him the yoke of captivity will be broken in two years (vs 1 - 4)
2.
Jeremiah responds "I wish, but…"
He points out that when the Lord truly speaks through a prophet, it
comes to pass (vs 5 - 9)
3.
Hananiah breaks the Jeremiah's wood yoke; God
says "you can break a wooden yoke alright, but what you're creating is
a yoke of iron for your own people" (vs 10 - 14)
4.
Jeremiah calls Hananiah a phony -- Hananiah dies
two months later (vs 15 - 17)
N.
Letters to the Captives (ch 29)
By
this time in history, about 599 BC, the siege of the city has begun and many
of the people of Jerusalem have already been carried away to Babylon.
God sends a message to them through Jeremiah.
1.
Do your best to live a normal, happy life.
Pray for the peace of your captives. (vs 1 - 7)
2.
Don't be deceived by so-called prophets.
Don't listen to the astrologists.
Ignore even your own dreams -- "I have not sent them" (vs 8
- 9)
3.
Believe this instead:
(vs 10 - 14)
a)
The captivity will last 70 years
b)
My thoughts for you are for peace
c)
You will search for Me, and find Me
d)
You will return home
4.
About those false prophets, the ones who are
still at it, even in Babylon -- Nebuchadnezzar will slay them (vs 15 - 23)
5.
Shemaiah the false priest -- claimed he was the
new guy in charge. God tells
Jeremiah to tell him "I will punish him and his family."
(vs 24 - 32)
Prophecies
Of Israel's Distant Future
Background from the OT: Jeremiah 30- 35; Ezekiel 34
Background from the NT: Revelation 5:1-5; 20:1-6
The following sequence of chapters are prophecies of Israel's distant
future. They were recorded around
the time of the siege of Jerusalem, and just prior
to its destruction. Jeremiah
is in jail now, for speaking out against the false prophets.
It is at this dark hour that God gives a glimpse of the future
restoration of Israel.
A.
The Coming Great Tribulation (ch 30)
1.
Prophetic marker: it occurs after the return
from captivity (v 3)
2.
A description of the "Time of Jacob's
Trouble" (vs 5 - 7)
3.
A promise of deliverance from that time, and a
confirmation of the Davidic Covenant (vs 8 - 9)
a)
Correlation with Ezekiel 34:23-25
4.
Israel's sin must be judged (vs 11 - 17)
5.
Future restoration of Jerusalem as capital (vs
18 - 21)
6.
Promise of spiritual unity (v 22)
7.
Prophetic marker -- "latter days" --
Millennial Kingdom (v 24)
B.
True Restoration -- After the Tribulation (ch
31)
It's
interesting to note how many times the phrase "I will" occurs in
this chapter. This is God declaring what He will do. These things are related to the prophecies of Ezekiel 34,
where God also continuously repeats the phrase "I will."
1.
God begins with "why": His everlasting
love for them (v 3)
2.
The joy of Israel's return (vs 4 - 14)
3.
But first -- a prophecy concerning the coming of
Christ (vs 15 - 17) (see
also Matthew 2:16 - 18)
4.
Signposts for a returning people (v 21)
5.
A reference to the Old Covenant -- fathers
responsible for the sins of the children (vs 29 - 30)
6.
Promise of the New Covenant (vs 31 - 34)
7.
The sureness of God's Word (vs 35 - 37)
8.
Physical boundaries of the Millennial Jerusalem
(vs 38 - 40)
C.
The example of the Purchased Field (ch 32)
1.
God tells Jeremiah that Jerusalem is about to be
captured by Nebuchadnezzar. King
Zedekiah will be taken prisoner. Jeremiah
is not to resist. (vs 1 -
5)
2.
Jeremiah is told to purchase a plot of land from
his cousin (vs 6 - 8)
3.
The real estate deal is closed with a public
ceremony according to the custom of the time (vs 9 - 12)
4.
Jeremiah is told to place the deed in a sealed
urn and bury it for a future day (vs 13 - 15)
a)
Compare to Revelation 5: 1 - 5
b)
Only the rightful heir is qualified to
open the Seal
5.
Jeremiah's prayer to God: "what the
point?" (vs 16 - 25)
6.
God's response
a)
Jerusalem will indeed fall (vs 26 - 35)
b)
I will rebuild Jerusalem (vs 36 - 43)
D.
A Promise of Healing (ch 33)
This
comes about two years before the fall of Jerusalem (588 B.C.).
It's a reaffirmation of the Davidic Covenant, spoken to David through
Nathan the prophet, around 1040 B.C. (II
Sam 7:12-17)
1.
Jeremiah was still in prison (v 1)
2.
What will happen:
a)
The Babylonians are coming, but it is God
who executes the judgment (v 5)
b)
Afterward, comes healing and revelation (v
6)
c)
Return from captivity (v 7)
d)
Cleansing and pardon -- two different
things (v 8)
e)
They will serve as an example of God's
goodness (v 9)
f)
Joy, gladness, vitality, economic
stability (vs 10 - 13)
3.
How it will happen -- the return of Christ
a)
The Branch of Righteousness (v 15) see
also Zech 3:8-10
b)
The heirs of David and Levi (vs 17-18)
4.
The sureness of it happening (vs 20 - 26)
E.
A Promise of Destruction (ch 34)
1.
A message specifically for Zedekiah:
the city will fall, and you will be taken captive.
You'll meet Nebuchadnezzar face to face, you'll die in peace and will
be honored by your people. (vs
1 - 7)
2.
Zedekiah tries to buy pardon from the Lord by
doing good deeds; in this case, he sets all slaves free.
It didn't take. (vs 8 - 22)
a)
Zedekiah does the right thing, for the
wrong reason. Even so, God
honors his action, by promising his life. (vs 15-17)
b)
Many of those who owned slaves, however,
went back later and repossessed them.
God promises to punish them. (vs 11; 18-20) [The covenant of Emancipation
and the Year of Jubilee described at Deuteronomy 15 and Leviticus
25]
F.
The Example of the Rechabites (ch 35)
The
Rechabites are most probably descendants of Jethro, father-in-law of Moses (Numbers
10:29-32, Judges 1:16, 4:11).
II
Kings 10:15-27 and I Chronicles 2:55 indicates that the Rechabites were
related to the Kenites, a Midianite tribe who came into Canaan with the
Israelites, and kept their nomad lifestyle.
Professed
descendants of the Rechabites
still live today as nomads in the Arabia Peninsula and Middle East.
1.
God tells Jeremiah to invite the Rechabites into
the temple and offer them wine. (vs 2-5)
2.
They refuse, citing the tradition of their
fathers (vs 6 - 10) The only
reason they're living in the city is because of the Babylonians. (v 11)
3.
God uses their response as an object lesson:
These men are faithfully keeping the commands of their natural
fathers, yet the Israelites are refusing to submit to the authority of their
Heavenly Father. (vs 13 -17)
4.
God's promise to preserve the line of the
Rechabites forever (vs 18 - 19)
Events
around the Fall of Jerusalem
Background from the OT: Jeremiah 36 - 43
A.
The Burning of the Book (ch 36)
1.
While in prison, and during the reign of
Jehoiakim (607 B.C.), God tells Jeremiah to record the words in a scroll.
Jeremiah dictates everything to his secretary Baruch (vs 1 - 4)
2.
Baruch reads it out loud in the temple.
One of the princes hears it, and brings Baruch in the presence of
other princes to read it for them again. (vs 5 - 15)
3.
The other princes are greatly distressed and
take the message to King Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim
sends for the scroll and has it read in his presence.
(vs 16 - 21)
4.
As each page is read, Jehoiakim cuts it off the
scroll and throws it in the fire. Note
that the son of Hananiah (the false prophet who defied God's word in Ch 28)
was among those who agree with the burning. (vs 22 - 25).
5.
God tells Jeremiah to write another scroll as
before, and to tell Jehoiakim that he and his family would be punished for
his sins. He would leave no
physical heirs from the line of David.
(Jesus was of the line of Nathan, another son of David.) (vs 26 - 32)
B.
The Egyptian Intervention (ch 37)
1.
Zedekiah is now on the throne -- appointed by
Nebuchadnezzar to replace Jehoiachin. He didn't hearken to the word of God, but he did ask Jeremiah
to pray for them. (vs 1 -
4)
a)
It's now about 599 BC
b)
This is the 3rd & final
time Nebuchadnezzar comes to Jerusalem
c)
Zedekiah made a bargain with the
Egyptians, but they didn't hold up their end of it
2.
As the Egyptians approach, the Babylonians move
off to intercept their army. God
promises that they will be back to finish them off for good.
(vs 5 - 10)
3.
While the Babylonians are away, Jeremiah figures
this is a good time to go see the land he purchased back in chapter 32.
He's arrested by the grandson of Hananiah and charged with defecting
to the Babylonians. He's thrown
into a dungeon. (vs 11 - 15)
4.
Zedekiah meets with Jeremiah to ask about a word
from God, has him placed in another prison (vs 16 - 21)
C.
The Great Escape (ch 38)
1.
Pashhur, same one mentioned in chapter 21, and
his son Gedaliah complain to the king that Jeremiah is preaching from
prison. Zedekiah allows them to
move him to another dungeon. (vs
1 - 6) See
also Lamentations 3:52 - 56.
2.
Ebed-melech rescues him and move him back to the
palace prison. (vs 7 - 13)
3.
Some time later Zedekiah meets Jeremiah secretly
and asks him about word from God. Zedekiah
didn't like what he heard -- he must surrender to Nebuchadnezzar. (vs 14 -
28)
D.
The Beginning of the "Time of the
Gentiles" (Ch 39)
Christ
refers to this time in Luke chapter 21, verse 23-24.
Compare
the account of Zedekiah's escape to Ezekiel's prophecy in 594 B.C., from Ezekiel
chapter 12.
1.
The city falls completely.
Zedekiah sneaks out the back door and tries to escape, but is caught
by the Babylonians. [Reconciles
with 32:4 and 38:17-18] (vs
1 - 5)
2.
Nebuchadnezzar kills the king's sons, puts his
eyes out, then carts him off to Babylon. Jerusalem is burned and its walls torn down.
The living remnant of the city is carried away captive. (vs 6 - 8)
3.
Nebuchadnezzar tells his general to take good care of Jeremiah. (vs 9 - 14)
4.
God gives Jeremiah a message for Ebed-melech.
(vs 15 - 18)
E.
Freedom for Jeremiah (ch 40)
1.
Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, leads the
captives away from Jerusalem, in route to Babylon.
They get as far as Ramah. (v
1)
a)
Ramah is also known as Arimathea, about 5
mi no of Jerusalem, the site of Rachel's tomb, and the hometown of New
Testament "Joseph of Arimathea."
2.
Nebuzaradan frees Jeremiah, giving him the
choice to either go on to Babylon under his care, or walk on, a free man.
As an afterthought almost, he urges Jeremiah to go to Gedaliah, an
appointee of Nebuchadnezzar. Notice
his belief at verses 2 & 3 that God has judged Israel.
(vs 2 - 6)
3.
Meanwhile, the remnant that had escaped capture
begin making their way to Gedaliah in Mizpah. (vs 7 - 12)
4.
One of the refugees, Johanan, warns Gedaliah
that another refugee, Ishmael, plans to murder him, and even offers to kill
him first. Gedaliah rejects
this. (vs 13 - 16)
F.
Assassination of the Governor (ch 41)
1.
Ishmael and ten henchmen murder Gedaliah, his
aides, his soldiers and the Babylonians working with him.
(vs 1 - 4)
2.
The next day Ishmael murders 80 new refugees
from Shiloh as they came to Mizpah to worship.
He threw their bodies in a cistern.
(vs 5 - 9)
3.
Ishmael captures the remaining refugees and
takes them away to the Ammonites. Johanan
pursues them and rescues them from Ishmael.
(vs 10 - 15)
4.
Johanan leads all the survivors toward Egypt,
fearing the retribution of the Babylonians. (vs 16 - 18)
G.
God warns them Not to go to Egypt (42:1 -
43:13)
1.
Johanan and his aides ask Jeremiah for
instructions from God, swearing to do exactly as He says. (vs 1 - 6)
2.
Ten days later, God delivers an answer (vs 7 -
22)
a)
If you stay home, I'll protect you
b)
If you disobey and go to Egypt, the very
things you're running from will destroy you
c)
Jeremiah adds: "You were being
dishonest when you asked me to ask God -- you never intended to do His
will. You will die by the
sword."
3.
Johanan says "God didn't say that!
You and Baruch just want us to go into captivity!"
(vs 43:1 - 4)
4.
The group goes to Egypt, taking Jeremiah against
his will (vs 5 - 7)
5.
When they get there, God delivers an example
message, having Jeremiah hide great stones near Pharaoh's house. (vs 8 - 13)
a)
Nebuchadnezzar will set a throne where the
rocks are hidden
b)
He'll destroy their temples
c)
He'll conquer Egypt once and for all.
Conclusions
Background from the OT: Jeremiah 44 - 52
A.
Warning for those who fled to Egypt (ch 44)
1.
God says "you've seen how I punish
idolatry, don't stay here Egypt" (vs
1 - 14)
2.
The people respond: we had it good when we did
that stuff, we're going back to it. (vs
15 - 19)
3.
God's point of view: Sin is the problem, not the
cure. (vs 21 - 23)
4.
Judgment pronounced (vs 25 - 30)
B.
Baruch's Lament (ch 45)
C.
Destruction of Egypt Foretold (ch 46)
1.
out of chronological sequence -- about 607 B.C.
2.
verses 1 - 12 describe the defeat at Carchemish
around 605 B.C.
3.
verses 13 - 26 describe the later Babylonian
invasion of Egypt
D.
Destruction of the Philistines Foretold (ch
47)
1.
see also:
a)
Isaiah 14:28-32
b)
Amos 1:6-8
c)
Ezekiel 25:15-17
d)
Zephaniah 2:4-7
e)
Zechariah 9:1-7
E.
Destruction of Moab Foretold (ch 48)
1.
see also:
a)
Isaiah 15, 16
b)
Ezekiel 25:8-11
c)
Amos 2:1-3
d)
Zephaniah 2:8-11
F.
Destruction of Ammon, Edom, Syria, Hazor, Elam
(Ch 49
1.
see also Ezekiel 25:1-11
G.
Fall of Babylon Foretold (ch 50, 51)
Somewhere
around 595 B.C., these two chapters were copied in a separate book and
delivered by a diplomatic envoy to Nebuchadnezzar.
They were to be read publicly in a ceremony, and then the book was to
be sunk in the Euphrates with the words "Thus shall Babylon sink, and not
rise."
H.
Captivity of Judah Summarized (ch 52)
Copyright 2006 Leon V. Smith. All rights
reserved.
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